North Carolina Medical Board · PA

50 hours. Every 2 years. Tied to your birthday.

A source-verified guide to North Carolina's CME requirements for PAs — hours, mandatory topics, audit rules, and exemptions.

Updated April 2026Sourced from NCMB~4 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed April 18, 2026

Mandatory topics

North Carolina has no state-mandated topic requirements beyond the 50-hour total.

Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your North Carolina cycle automatically. Start tracking free →
Conditional requirements

These rules apply only when the trigger described under each card is met (for example, holding a state-issued controlled substance registration or treating a specific patient population). Each cites the underlying statute or rule directly.

ConditionalOpioid / controlled substances[1]
2 hrs
Biennial

Physician assistants who prescribe controlled substances

View sourceVerbatim from source
“For controlled substance prescribers, at least two hours of CME, from the required 50 hours, designed specifically to address controlled substance prescribing practices is mandatory. This training must include instruction on prescribing practices and chronic pain management.”
21 NCAC 32S .0216(b)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, North Carolina Medical Association, or AAFP. ACGME residency or fellowship time accrues toward the requirement. Teaching or presenting accredited CME can satisfy a portion of required hours.

Credit systemNotes
AAPA Category 1
PAs only
CME must be recognized by NCCPA as Category I CME. AAPA Category 1 CME is the canonical NCCPA Category I credit.Source21 NCAC 32S .0216(a)[1]
Board-approved credit
PAs only
Any credit NCCPA recognizes as Category I qualifies, including interprofessional education and cultural competency or implicit bias training, provided NCCPA approves such courses.Source21 NCAC 32S .0216(a)[1]
Documentation & audit

Historical topic mandate (2024-2025 renewal cycles only): Under SB 1147 / HB 1426 (2023 NC General Assembly), NCMB voted October 19, 2023 to require 1 hour of human trafficking CE for all licensees renewing in 2024 and 2025. The current NCMB CME FAQ (2026) no longer lists this topic. PAs who renewed during 2024-2025 had a real HT CE obligation; the 6-year records retention rule means audit exposure persists. SB 1147/HB 1426 also authorizes NCMB to designate new topic-specific CE (up to 2 hours) for future cycles — subject to NCMB re-adoption.

The two-year CME period commences on the PA's birthday following license issuance.[1][2] The CME requirement is 50 hours of NCCPA Category I CME per biennial cycle.

Waivers & exemptions

Current NCCPA certification satisfies the basic 50-hour CME requirement if the PA attests to this status during annual renewal.[1] This does NOT waive the 2-hour controlled substance prescribing CE if the PA prescribes controlled substances, unless that training is part of NCCPA certification activities.

FAQ
How many CE hours do North Carolina PAs need?
North Carolina physician assistants must complete 50 hours of NCCPA Category I continuing education every two years.[1] The biennial CME cycle begins on the PA's birthday following initial licensure. However, PAs who hold current NCCPA certification are deemed in compliance with the 50-hour requirement simply by attesting to their certified status during annual renewal.[2] Since NCCPA certification requires 100 credits per two-year cycle, certified PAs automatically exceed the state minimum. The 50-hour requirement serves as a backstop for PAs who are not NCCPA-certified.
Are there mandatory CE topics for PAs in North Carolina?
Only conditionally. North Carolina requires PAs who prescribe controlled substances to complete 2 hours of CE on controlled substance prescribing practices each biennial cycle.[1] Topics must include instruction on prescribing practices and chronic pain management, with recognition of abuse/misuse or non-opioid alternatives also qualifying. PAs who complete the federally required MATE Act training are deemed in compliance with this state requirement for the cycle in which the MATE training was completed. The controlled substance CE requirement applies regardless of NCCPA certification status (unless controlled substance content is part of NCCPA certification activities). PAs who do not prescribe controlled substances are exempt from this mandate.
Where can I check my North Carolina PA license renewal date?
The NC Medical Board manages PA license renewal at ncmedboard.org.[2] While the license is renewed annually, the CME cycle is biennial and begins on the PA's birthday following initial licensure, so PAs attest to CME compliance at each annual renewal but have a full two-year window to complete their hours. The Board does not require submission of CE documentation unless you are specifically selected for audit.
Does North Carolina accept NCCPA certification in place of CME?
Yes. Current NCCPA certification satisfies the 50-hour state CME requirement when the PA attests to that status during annual renewal.[1] This is the primary compliance pathway for most NC PAs. The one carve-out: if the PA prescribes controlled substances, the 2-hour controlled substance CE still applies separately, unless that training is part of NCCPA certification activities. Completion of federally required MATE Act training also satisfies the 2-hour CS mandate for that cycle.

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Sources & Citations

Every mandatory topic and conditional requirement above cites the underlying statute or rule. Numbered references below correspond to the bracketed citations next to each requirement.

  1. 21 NCAC 32S .0216 — PA Continuing Medical Education
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17
    Show verbatim text
    “A physician assistant shall complete at least 50 hours of Continuing Medical Education (CME) every two years.”21 NCAC 32S .0216(a)
    “For controlled substance prescribers, at least two hours of CME, from the required 50 hours, designed specifically to address controlled substance prescribing practices is mandatory. This training must include instruction on prescribing practices and chronic pain management.”21 NCAC 32S .0216(b)
  2. CME FAQ — North Carolina Medical Board
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17
    Show verbatim text
    “The CME requirement for physician assistants is at least 50 hours of Category I CME completed over a two-year cycle. There is no minimum CME that needs to be taken per year. Note: A 2015-2016 state budget provision requires that if you write prescriptions for controlled substances, you must have two of the required 50 hours specifically focused on CS CME.”NCMB CME FAQ

This page is provided for general educational purposes and reflects the best available information as of the last reviewed date above. CME requirements change. Atlas CME is not affiliated with the North Carolina Medical Board, or any other state medical board, licensing authority, or professional organization. Physicians are solely responsible for verifying their own current CME requirements directly with their state's medical board before relying on any information presented here.

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